8.11.2009

Pondering Wisdom

"Proverbs 9" by David Wierzbicki

Happy Tuesday.I hope your day has been lovely and unique so far.

Tomorrow for the midweek service at church, I’m preaching on the Old Testament lesson for the week which is Proverbs 9:1-6.It’s a text of the Bible I’ve never paid much attention to.In the last 4 hours, it has really started growing on me!It’s all about the theme of “Wisdom.”My favorite translation so far is “The Message” which reads:

Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home;
it’s supported by seven timbers.
The banquet meal is ready to be served:
lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
Having dismissed her serving maids,
Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place,
and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread – fresh-baked bread,
roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confused and live!
Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”

Interesting, eh?There are a few things I really like about this text:

1)Wisdom is totally inclusive and wants everyone to come over for dinner
2)I love the imagery!I imagine it like Lady Wisdom/Sir Wisdom coming and finding us in the midst of our stupidest moments, and then inviting us to a fancy dinner at Red Lobster (or another fancy restaurant).She makes a special spot for us at the table and then tells us how to live in a more fulfilling way.

In my mind’s eye, Wisdom looks like a very wise, wrinkly, beautiful, Great-Grandma or Great-Grandpa.